esj theory

ESJ Theory

International Step by Step Association

stereotypes

prejudices

discrimination

oppression

Internalizedoppression

Thoughts + feelings

Action +

power

institutialization

internalization

Self-fullfil

ing

prophecies

Researchas suggest that prejudices and stereotypes

are not limited to a few pathological or misguided individuals

They are outgrowths of normal human functioning,

all people are susceptible to one extent or another

Homo Stereotypus

animal predisposed to prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination,

but with the capacity to overcome these biases if

motivated to do so

(Blair, 2002; Fiske, 2000; Monteith & Voils, 2001).

Stereotypes are defined as

generalizations, schematic and rigid perceptions

attributed to the members of a certain group - transferred and applied rigidly to every single member of the given group.

Stereotypes are also described as:

Irrational generalizations/etiquettes

Expression and rationalization of prejudices

Mental shortcuts applied when people are busy or distracted (Gilbert & Hixon, 1991).

Prejudices are defined as

specific types of attitudes characterized by a relatively permanent, subjective position toward certain entities

judgments that:

- Are not based on factual or logical argumentation

- Are resilient to change

- Are characterized by a strong emotional component

Prejudice is an attitude characterized by three basic components:

Cognitive (what we think, opinions)

Emotional (what we feel, and is related to our thinking)

Connotative (what we do as a result of our thinking and feelings

The roots of prejudices and stereotypes

Personality factors"authoritarian personality"

rigid thinkers obey authority see the world as black and white enforce strict adherence to social rules and

hierarchies right-wing and social dominance orientation

The Authoritarian Personality, Adorno(1950)

Cognitive factorsThe Nature of Prejudice, Gordon Allport (1954)

Categorical Thinking

Prejudice/stereotypes are partly an outgrowth of normal human functioning although they have emotional, social, economic, and historic dimensions

The human mind must think with the aid of cathegories

Categories are the basis for normal prejudgment.

We need to keep in mind that

Social categories form an indispensable part of human

thought, but because attributes such as

race, sex, and age lie along a continuum, social labels are

never more than approximations.

intriguing and important consequence of categorical thinking

Assimilation and Contrast tendency to distort perceptions minimizing differences within categories

("assimilation") exaggerating differences between categories

("contrast")

It means that

differences within groups will tend to be minimized

differences between groups will tend to be exaggerated

Distortion is highly resistant to change

DIE MODEL, Milton Benett

D DISCRIMINATIONI Epotential

D - description

I - InterpretationE - Evaluation

Social factors

1. Outgroup Homogeneity effect

when it comes to attitudes, values, personality traits, and other characteristics, people tend to see outgroup members as more alike than ingroup members

As a result

Outgroup members are at risk of being seen as interchangeable or expendable

ingroup appears to have a diverse assortment of individuals, and an outgroup appears relatively

The perception of sameness holds true regardless of whether the outgroup is another race, religion, nationality, college major, or other naturally occurring group

(Linville, 1998)

EXPLANATIONS

People usually have more contact with ingroup members

They tend to organize and recall information about ingroups in terms of persons rather than abstract characteristics (Ostrom, Carpenter, Sedikides, & Li, 1993; Park & Judd, 1990).

They are more motivated to make distinctions among ingroup members with whom they will have future contact

Tajfel: the "minimal group procedure” an experimental technique

groups formed on the basis of almost any distinction(even on the basis of minimal information without knowing each other) are prone to ingroup bias.

people tend to see their own group as superior to other groups

they seek to maintain an advantage over other groups

"implicit egotism"

unconscious preference for things associated with the self-

concept and identity (Pelham)

2. Causal Attributions

The way how ingroup and outgroup members explain each other's behavior

These explanations, are both a symptom and source of prejudice.

people often make uncharitable attributions

for the behavior of outgroup members

They do this in at least three ways:

a) Just-World Attribution in an Unjust World

causal attributions implicitly follow a "just world" ideology that assumes people get what they deserve and

deserve what they get (Lerner, 1980; Montada & Lerner, 1998).

b) The Fundamental Attribution Error

general tendency to attribute behavior to

dispositional causes(Ross, 1977).

c) The Ultimate Attribution Error

ingroup members (1) attribute negative outgroup behavior to dispositional

causes (more than they would for identical ingroup behavior),

(2) attribute positive outgroup behavior to one or more of the following causes:

(a) a fluke or exceptional case, (b) luck or special advantage, (c) high motivation and effort, and (d) situational factors.

RESULT

makes it virtually impossible for outgroup members to break free of prejudice against them, because their positive

actions are explained away while their failures and shortcomings are used

against them.

Motivational factors

Research indicates

when people experience a drop in self-esteem, they become

more likely to express prejudice

“Social identity theory," Tajfel

people maintain their self-esteem in part by identifying with groups and believing that the groups they belong to are better than other

groups

(Tajfel, 1981; Tajfel & Turner, 1986).

Function of Stereotypes and Prejudices

1. Giving the meaning and understanding to the world around us

“fills out the emptiness”, completes insufficient information provides the feeling of certainty,

predictability and clarity

2. Valuing the group we belong to

"Ultimately, many forms of discrimination and bias may develop not because outgroups are hated, but because positive emotions such as admiration, sympathy, and trust are reserved for the ingroup." Marilyn Brewer (1999, p. 438)

3. Valuing other groups,

their characteristics and their ways of functioning

4. Rationalizating discrimination against the members of other

groups

Process of Developing Stereotypes and Prejudices proceeds in three steps:

1. Creation of “discernible” categories

2. Creation of incorrect generalizations about the whole group

3. Behaving toward the members of a certain group in accordance with generalized views (discrimination).

IMPORTANT

Awareness about the differences and process of categorization and generalization are natural cognitive processes

Developing a negative attitude/relation toward the ones who are different is not part of natural cognitive functioning

Effects of Stereotypes and Prejudices

Self-fulfilling Prophecies3 steps

An individual or entire group is labeled We begin to behave in accordance with the

label that was attributed. Our behavior could be very explicit or implicit

That individual/group begins to behave in accordance with the label which only asserts our original label and strengthens our opinion that all along we were right.

The Mechanism “Blame the Victim” (Ryan, 1976)

1. Problem and the population stricken by it are defined

2. Value systems, culture and typical behaviors of the population with the problem and the one without it are compared, usually through stereotyping

3. Cause for the problem is placed within the differences between the population with problem and the one without it

4. Implementation of actions aimed at changing the “problem” population.

This mechanism

place the root of social problems in the groups suffering instead of placing the root of these problems within a system that is oppressive in various ways and that creates unequal opportunities and possibilities for different groups.

This mechanism

actually serves to reinforce the prejudices and rationalize discrimination, i.e. unequal treatment of different groups.

is often the very essence of many interventions aimed at vulnerable groups, like actions aimed at changing the characteristics of at risk groups rather than changing the circumstances causing these groups to be vulnerable and treated unequally.

1. Gossiping and stereotyping

2. Social distance

3. Discrimination

5. Genocide

4. Physical attack

5 steps from gossiping to genocide Olport

What can we do trough ESJ?Starting points

Prejudices and stereotypes are thinking patterns that are acquired, and are explicitly or implicitly transmitted through the institutional system

While prejudices and stereotypes are typically learned passively, unlearning them must be done actively

Every one of us carries his/her own “baggage of stereotypes and prejudices”

Becoming aware of one’s own prejudices and stereotypes represents a necessary step in overcoming/eliminating them

What can we do trough ESJ?Starting points

Observing objectively, which is quite different from interpreting and evaluating, is the first step forward

For the beginning, it is enough to abstain from acting in accordance with prejudices, to create the space for careful and objective observation of oneself and others.

Deconstruction of DIE MODEL

ASSUMPTIONSHYPOTHESIS

ASSUMPTIONSHYPOTHESIS

ASSUMPTIONSHYPOTHESIS

ASSUMPTIONSHYPOTHESIS

D I E

Changing is always difficult and incremental

Requires commitment